ENGLISH
REFERENCE

boon

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈbun// UK //bˈuːn// boon Archaic Dialect

n. a helpful thing or person that makes life easier. You use this word when something is very useful or lucky for you.

n. a source of help, benefit, or good fortune. Often used with the preposition 'to' or 'for' to indicate the recipient of the benefit.


SIMPLE

The new library is a boon to students.

CONTEXTUAL

The sudden rain was a boon to the farmers who had been waiting for water.

COMPLEX

The invention of the printing press was a boon to the spread of knowledge across Europe.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English boon (“prayer”), from Old Norse bón (“prayer, petition”), from Proto-Germanic *bōniz (“supplication”), influenced by boon (“good, favorable”, adjective). Doublet of ben; see there for more.

Etymology 2

From Middle English boon, bone, borrowed from Old Northern French boon, from Old French bon (“good”), from Latin bonus (“good”), from Old Latin duonus, dvenos, from Proto-Indo-European *dū- (“to respect”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English bone (“reed, stem, husk”), akin to or alteration of Old English bune (“reed; drinking cup”).

Idioms2 entries

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